Lubricated cordage



May 14, 1935. w, Q HODSON 2,000,951

LUBHICATED CORDAGE Filed Sept. 17, 1954 IWISIINU ANU IWININU.

Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to lubricated cordage, and particularly tolubricated cordage composed mainly of relatively unabsorbent fibrousmaterial.

It has heretofore been the practice to lubricate a variety of types ofcordage, for example, marine cordage, wire rope cores, and cordage ingeneral, which is likely to be exposed to the atmosphere, particularlyto moisture. In general, such lubrication has been by the use of lightoils of one type or another which have been directly incorporated intothe ropes.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 637,007, led October 10, 1932,is described a method of lubricating wire rope cores. This invention isa continuation in part of the invention therein described.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is illustrative of theinvention.

The absorbent fibrous material is loosely permeated throughout theinterstices of the rope strands of ropes prepared from the usualrelatively non-absorbent vegetable fibres such as manila, hemp or thelike. By proper selection of the absorbent fibrous material, anenormously greater lubricant retention may be obtained. Instead ofincorporating the bre and then lubrieating the rope, it is preferable toprepare a lubricant comprising the absorbent brous material and to forcethis lubricant into the strands of the rope cordage. The absorbent andlubricant fill the voids and interstices within the rope.

Finely divided asbestos is preferably used as the absorbent. material.Properly cleaned, ground and lluffed asbestos will absorb as much as 14to 16 times its weight of lubricant, whereas manila, hemp and the likewill absorb only one-sixth to one-fourth of their weight. Moreover, theasbestos itself acts as a lubricant and prevents wear of the rope bresupon each other. However, instead of the asbestos, a wide range of otherabsorbents may be used, such as jute, cotton, linters or the like.

Any suitable lubricant may be used which the absorbent material willsuitably absorb. It is preferred to use a grease of high tenacity andviscosity. A grease comprising seventy-two (72) parts of mineral oil,for example, 100 viscosity naphthalene base Smackover oil, and two andone-half (2%) parts of aluminum oleate is satisfactory. It is preferredto incorporate therewith a minor proportion of a preservative such as apetroleum oxidation product such as those prepared by the Alox ChemicalCo., degras, creosote, thymol, pine tar or the like. One-half of one(1%) per cent. of Alox material in the above formula is preferred.

The amount of fibrous material to be mixed with the lubricant will, ofcourse, depend upon the absorbing qualities thereof. With a fairlycoarsely ground asbestos, three parts of the above mixture may be usedwith one part of the asbestos. A more carefully prepared asbestos may beincorporated in smaller proportion.

Where it is desired to incorporate the absorbent material withoutlubricant, the material may be blown in during twisting of the strands,preferably being somewhat coated with a small amount of adhesive in theprocess.

Instead of aluminum oleate soaps, other aluminum soaps such as aluminum,tungate, or linoleate, may be used, or greases may be employed whichhave for their base any suitable gelling soap. For example, magnesium,calcium, sodium lead, zinc or other s s may be used.

In the case of ma cordage or other cordage intended for use in contactwith water, it may be desirable to incorporate a waterproofing agentsuch as casein compounds, tung oil compounds, or stearine pitch.

As described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 744,061, led Sept.17, 1934, it is desirable to use both the extremely finely dividedasbestos and the relatively coarsely ground as bestos, coarse asbestosacting as a suitable carrier for the ne material.

It is likewise preferred to use an amount of asbestos or other fibrousabsorbent material which is in excess of the amount required to absorbthe lubricant. This prevents the lubricant from squeezing out underservice and results in a much longer life for the rope.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

l. Cordage comprising relatively unabsorbent brous rope strands having afinely divided fibrous material of markedly higher lubricantabsorbingpowers than the rope bres loosely permeated throughout the intersticesof the rope strands and having a lubricant distributed throughout saidrope strands and absorbent brous material.

2. Cordage comprising rope strands of relatively unabsorbent fibrousmaterial having incorporated therein a plastic material comprising anely divided flbrous material and a grease, said brous material havingmarkedly higher lubricant absorbing powers than the rope-fibres.

3. Rope as in claim 2 in which the absorbent fibrous material is nelydivided asbestos.

4. Cordage as in claim 2 in which the grease comprises heavy mineral oiland aluminum oleate.

5. Cordage as set forth in claim 2 in which the absorbent brous materialis present in an amount in excess of that required to absorb thelubricant.

6. Cordage as described in claim 2, in which the brous material ispresent in an amount sulicient to substantially fill the interstices ofthe rope fibres.

7. Cordage as described in claim 2, in which the absorbent fibrousmaterial is nely divided asbestos, and the ratio of asbestos to greaseis of the order of 3 parts grease to 1 fpart asbestos. 10

WALTER D. HODSON.

